'Shocked': Hotmail Co-Founder Sabeer Bhatia Reacts To IIT Madras Director's Cow Urine Claim

News18

14-07-2025

Last Updated:
Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia criticized IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti's viral video on cow urine's health benefits, sparking social media debate on its scientific credibility.
Reacting to an old video of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras Director V Kamakoti, Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia on Monday raised concerns over the credibility of elite academic institutions. The video of IIT-Madras director had gone viral earlier this year. In the video, Kamakoti had claimed that cow urine has 'anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties" and aids digestion.
In response to the viral video, Bhatia wrote on X, 'Shocked by IIT-Madras Director's viral video claiming cow urine is 'anti-bacterial, anti-fungal" with digestive benefits. If educated leaders spout this, how can we trust their decisions for elite institutions?(sic)"
Shocked by IIT Madras Director's viral video claiming cow urine is 'anti-bacterial, anti-fungal" with digestive benefits. If educated leaders spout this, how can we trust their decisions for elite institutions? 😲🇮🇳 #CowUrine #IITMadras #ScienceVsSuperstition — Sabeer Bhatia (@sabeer) July 14, 2025
His post has sparked widespread debate on social media as many netizens defended Kamakoti's view about cow urine, pointing to traditional practices and alternative medicine systems. While some backed Bhatia's concern, arguing that such statements undermine scientific credibility.
Supporting Kamakoti's claims, a user on X that goes by the name @AyurvedaMonk wrote, '@sabeer ji is shocked that #IITMadras Director claimed the antibacterial & antifungal qualities of #CowUrine & he is very much worried about the scientific temper of this country & such elite institutions.Sir, I request you not to worry because entire world has been publishing large numbers of researches about cow urines' health benefits. I hope you'll find this attached tweet helpful & will share with others.(sic)"
In the viral video, Kamakoti shared an anecdote about a person who reportedly cured his fever by consuming cow urine.
'An ascetic was having high fever and was thinking of calling a doctor. I forgot the sanyasi's name, but he said, 'Gomutran pinami' and immediately drank cow urine. In 15 minutes, his fever subsided," Kamakoti said in the video.
While the IIT Madras director asserted that such practices have scientific grounding, critics argued that claims lacking consensus from the medical community can be misleading, especially when made by senior academic figures.
Kamakoti had made the remarks during the 'Go Samrakshana Sala' event held on January 15 in Chennai as part of the Maatu Pongal celebrations. At the event, he had also emphasized the benefits of organic farming and the importance of indigenous cattle in agriculture and the economy.
However, his comments drew sharp criticism from several political leaders. While critics had questioned the appropriateness of such claims coming from the head of a premier technical institution.
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